A review by anna4
The Courting of Bristol Keats by Mary E. Pearson

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

3.75 (I think? Or maybe an actual 4 star?Idk)

This is a bit tough for me to rate, because while I enjoyed this book, there was something missing for me and after giving it some thought, I think I was missing *the* or *a* (big) plot twist.

‘The Courting of Bristol Keats’ was my first Mary E. Pearson book and to be extra honest, I didn’t plan on reading it. Then I did some research and got super interested and here we are. 
I don’t know how and why, but I somehow falsely convinced myself that this would be more on the historical side, which, now I can say, it really isn’t.

As this was my first book by Pearson, I do have to say that I really, really, really enjoyed the writing. Way easier to read than expected.

I liked all the characters and think they worked all very well together. 

Loved the tension between Bristol and Tyghan, though I will say, their love-story took a turn and went a tad too quick for me.

Generally, the book has a bigger cast of characters than I’d say one is used to with current books and I can see how one might get confused, but I will also say that I really enjoyed everything about it. The cast, the friendships and non-romantic relationships brought something to the story. 

I also very much enjoyed the setting. While there was no big exploration of the world, this is also not something that would have made sense for the plot.
I do believe the finished book will have a map though. 

While the book is mostly written from Bristol’s and Tyghan’s pov, I did really like how there were chapters throughout the book that were from other characters pov.

‘The Courting of Bristol Keats’ is almost 550 pages long and I don’t think *everything* in those 550 pages was necessary for the story. I did catch myself thinking “this? is? kinda? long?!”. 

However, I will also say, I think because it was fairly easy written and combined with the short chapters (I do love me some short chapters), this is something that can be forgiven.

I’d say the first half of the book was mostly chill and the story and pace did pick up nicely during the second half.

There was a scene between Tyghan and Kierus towards the end of the book that I was a bit “meh” about. Specifically, because I didn’t really like the way Bristol was brought up in that conversation.

Regarding the missing plot twist I mentioned in the beginning: the plot and all of the secrets certain characters have were very much clear from the beginning and were filled with some more details through the course of the book. It was just a matter of time when other characters might put two and two together. Besides the obvious emotional distress for when those secrets were finally revealed, there wasn’t really some sort of climax the story was heading.

I will also add, after giving it a second thought, I would have loved some more action or tension or some high stakes, dramatic scene to give me that little something.

The ending was very abrupt. It’s not a cliffhanger. It’s also not an actual ending. It just..ended. It feels like we are missing some sort of short epilogue to lead the way onto book two.

I want to believe there was a rhyme and reason to that ending because otherwise, I don’t really understand it.

Will I read the sequel? Absolutely.

Thank you to Tor Bramble/Pan Macmillan for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.